Let\'s not forget the Great Alex Murphy

Much has been written in recent days about the sterling contribution of Andrew Johns to rugby league.

Many icons of the game have indicated that, in their respective (and respected) views, Andrew Johns should rightly be regarded as the best rugby league player to ever play the game. Included in their number are such luminaries as Phil Gould, Peter Sterling, Brad Fittler and Warren Ryan; all figures with exemplary records at playing and/or coaching level.

While such arguments are, by their very nature, entirely subjective, it is still useful to examine them against the historical record.